Viola E. Campeau

Wake: Friday, January 23, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Labre Parish in Ashland.

Funeral Service: Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 1:00 pm at the St. Labre Parish in Ashland.

Graveside Services: St. Labre Cemetary in Ashland

Viola Elizabeth Campeau, the beloved Cheyenne Nightingale, died on January 20, 2004 at her sister Ethel's home in Minneapolis.

Viola was born June 17, 1922 in Star Prairie County, Minnesota, to parents Joseph and Emma (Dulon) Campeau. Viola graduated from Edison High School in 1941 and in 1951, she graduated from New Ulm, Minnesota School of Nursing. After receiving her nursing degree, she accepted a Marquette Indian League volunteer placement in 1954 to St. Michael's Indian School in Arizona. In 1957 she was posted to St. Labre Mission in Ashland, Montana, where she renewed her yearly commitment until she felt it was truly her home.

On June 23, 1970, Viola affiliated with the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order. Since childhood, Viola had been hard of hearing. She was proud when she acquired "Charmin," the first hearing guide dog in Montana. Charmin helped Viola 24 hours a day by alerting her when someone came to the door at night or the phone rang. Viola successfully lobbied Congress to pass a bill making it legal for a hearing aide dog to accompany its owner on public transportation and to public museums and National Parks.

On March 30, 1981, a bill introduced by Representative Tom Asay was enacted by the 47th Montana Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ted Schwinden.In addition to her job teaching kindergarten, Viola opened a small clinic at St. Labre, which then consisted of odds and ends of antiquated medications such as mutton fat ointment, homemade bandages and two thermometers. No doctor came to the school and the nearest Health Clinic was 21 miles away at Lame Deer. From 1957 to 1965, Viola averaged 60 patients a day including school students and ranch families. A devout Catholic, she nursed people suffering from life-threatening bums, car accident injuries and diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, diptheria, meningitis, typhoid and cholera. Finally she contacted Dr. Ross Lemire, an internist in Billings who kindly told her to call him any time for prescriptions and diagnosis. Viola was forever grateful for his help.

During her early years at St. Labre, her dearest friend and mentor was Fintan Schaub. She had the honor to nurse him in his last illness. Father Emmett Hoffmann and other priests also called upon, Viola's help while recovering from numerous illnesses. The energetic nurse helped many people back to good health with the kind bedside manner. She endeared herself to the Northern Cheyenne and to area ranching families when she prayed with them at the death beds of relatives. Her soothing manner helped many to accept the death of their loved one's in tragic accidents or in lingering terminal illnesses.

Viola dedicated all of her adult life to the poor and grieving. In the fall of 1998, Viola and a friend went to pick berries at Crazy Head Springs. She never dreamed that it would be her last walk in the Cheyenne hills. A week later, Viola went to the Ashland Post Office to get her mail. As she walked from the Post Office to the Bank, she was struck down by a cement truck. The truck driver didn't know what he had hit until he looked into his rear view mirror. He was horrified to see Viola's crumpled body.Miraculously, Viola came home after nearly 90 days in a coma and after the amputation of her leg. During her hospital stay, friends Butch and Lena (White Dirt) Sooktis were of great support and comfort, as was Father Emmett Hoffmann, who vowed to take care of her as she had taken care of him.

For seven years Father unselfishly cared for Viola until they both moved into the new Heritage Living Center in Ashland. Nearly every day Viola had visits from students and from Cheyenne friends who kept a special place in their hearts for their cherished nurse. She loved the Center and continued to watch over Father Emmett after he had several surgeries.

Viola and her family were happy to see Viola's life highlighted in Father Emmett's recently published biography,Renegade Priest of the Northern Cheyenne. No two friends were more devoted than Father and his old nurse, Viola Campeau.

Viola was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Pearl, Lola, Alvern, Doris, and brother Larry.

She is survived by brothers Tom and Jim, sisters Ethel Cameron, Eva Lofgren and Marion Nelson; nieces Laurie (Bill) Ducharme, Sherrie Campeau, Debby Horvath, and numerous nieces and nephews. She leaves special friends Butch and Lena Sooktis, Boon Phieng, Irene and Ingrid Duke, Adele Doughty, Alice and Frank Huller, Eva Foote, Robert and Delores Bement, Jeannie Haugen, Clarence Spotted Wolf, Ella Holmes, Mary Jane Robinson, Star Fulmer, Lorraine Robinson, Chris Murline, Fr. Bertin Samsa, Capuchin, Fr. Ruport Dom, Capuchin, Anthony Scannel, Capuchin, Anna Antelope and many more friends too numerous to mention.

Viola will be buried in the St. Labre Cemetery in Ashland on January 24, 2004 at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Soaring Eagle for the Heritage Living Center, P.O. Box 879, Billings, Montana 59103.If you wish to send the family condolences please send an email to: stevenson@midrivers.com